Not needing a BQ, but in the midst of NY marathon training, I was again using the race to see exactly where my training was at. I knew after HTC that I was in better shape than last year on my way to the Monumental Indianapolis Marathon, but you never know. A number of members of my local Cleveland Second Sole Running group were participating in both the half and marathon events with three hoping to BQ and one running her first marathon. I went to my summer house in Chautauqua as it is 45 min from Presque Isle, and we (my friend Chris from Cleveland, CHQ, and 2nd Sole) went to the small, but surprising Expo on Saturday afternoon and then joined several of the 2nd Sole runners for dinner at the local Olive Garden. Food was so-so, but the company was excellent. The three running marathon the next day were nervous, but all were ready.
The next morning Chris and I left at the ungodly hour of 4:45 and set out for Presque Isle. We got there by 5:45 as instructed and were able to use the bath house bathrooms without any lines and go to the starting area quite easily. Chris has originally intended to run the marathon but had been a bit injured and turned to lots of cycling over the summer (her forte as she is an awesome cyclist) so she was still starting with the marathoners intending to do a long run. After all, she is joining myself and our other summer training friend, Mary Pat, in NY for the marathon. She ended up running 19 miles which was uplifting and the motivation she needed. She started with our other friend, Christine, who was doing her first marathon and had an incredible plan in mind. I must say that I have never seen a first timer pace themselves so well in a marathon. So well, in fact, that she ran her fastest miles in the last 10K and Chris and I missed her finish which was a strong 4:27. So strong in fact that she ran a 2 min negative split in her first marathon!!!!!
As a half marathoner, we started 30 min after the marathoners and I lined up with another 2nd sole buddy, Craig, and off we went. I knew that Craig was in great shape as he had made it through an excellent training cycle without any injuries and he was asking all the right questions about taper and fueling. Not really sure how I was going to run, I set my sites on running at least a sub 1:45 (I ran 1:44:44 in July) and hopefully a sub 1:43 (I ran 1:43 and change last year). I also hoped to stay strong through the entire 13 miles. Of course, the weather cooperated in that it was in the low-50s at the start with relatively low humidity, so things were looking good on that front. Craig and I ended up in the same pack for the first 7 miles after which I looked at my watch and was a bit scared since I was moving right along at a 7:40 pace. Not sure that I could hold it, I dropped back a bit letting Craig go. I re-grouped around 10 miles (my pace never really dropped off, but it felt like it did) and hoped to finish strong. I did lose a bit in that last mile, but not like last year where I completely lost it with two 8:15s for miles 11 and 12, and I was able to give it everything I had finishing in 1:40:59 (net time). I was psyched as not only have I not broken 1:41 (or even 1:43) on that course, I have not run that fast since the Houston half in January, 2012 at which time I was training for a half, not a full. That time as good enough for 114th out of 1003 overall finishers and 3rd (soon to be 2nd) in my AG and 7th Master. Hopefully this can translate to a positive NY race.
My overall splits were as follows (and I had 1:41:59 on my watch):
Mile 1 - 8:00 Mile 6 - 7:34 Mile 11 - 7:40
Mile 2 - 7:38 Mile 7 - 7:33 Mile 12 - 7:52
Mile 3 - 7:36 Mile 8 - 7:41 Mile 13 - 7:43
Mile 4 - 7:32 Mile 9 - 7:35 Mile 0.17 - 1:17
Mile 5 - 7:37 Mile 10 - 7:39
As for kudos to the Race Director, my running buddy, Karyn, who won our AG with a super strong 1:34:37 was beaten by some women by 4 seconds for overall Master. Karyn questioned this as she saw no women near her and with a 4 sec differential, this women must have been right in front of her. In looking up results for this women on Athlinks and other sources, it showed that she repeatedly ran around a 2 hr half. Hmm, that is a big PR. So we waited for the photos, and lo and behold, the Masters Female Winner was a "Guy"! Karyn kindly brought this up with the RD, who investigated, realized she was right, and drove her award and other swag to her here in Cleveland. Karyn deserved that award as she ran an awesome PR herself, and the RD just made me want to run more Erie races every year as he did the right thing!
In the end, it was a great day for all the 2nd Sole runners - the three looking for BQs made the times (although with the craziness of Boston entries, they may not get in :( ), several PRs were run (Angel, Brittany, Karyn, Craig, Christine) and several AG awards were had. Erie, we will be back.
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